The day was like most others in Ogma Dinn, though perhaps drearier than most. Grey skies and grey stone buildings and muddied streets were all that welcomed anyone intending to go out into the world this morning. Most people held their coats tightly around them and kept their heads down as they weaved down the paths to get to their jobs. Trollies hummed and clanked their way through the streets and sounds of industrial work could always be faintly heard, no matter how far from the factories you were.

The great clock that shadowed the entire city struck nine and the bell began to gong rhythmically to indicate the time. A young half-orc was trying to sell newspapers desperately to little avail. It had been a slow news week again like it normally was. He examined the paper, looking for anything that might be of interest. The front page was mainly talking about a new tower being built. "As though we have the room for one," He scoffed before continuing to flip through pages. His eyes landed on the obituaries and one in particular caught his eye.

"Lady Cassandra Dale of House Dale dies at age 82 with no living heir!" He calls out, finding something that may interest the greedy at the very least. A few interested people start to mutter and pay 2 copper for The Dinn Daily. The half-orc adjusts his cap and continues to cry out the news that had been so easily passed up. "Only in the obituary," He scoffed, "Please, a Lady with a fortune biting it without anyone knowing who could possibly get it should be front page in the Dinn."

For the first time ever, Lady Cassandra Dale's name was the talk of the town and it was all because she died single, lonely, and rich.

Of course, there were a few people that had been summoned by her attorney, indicating that perhaps someone would be gaining her vast wealth and strange resources. It took most of the afternoon for the gnomish lawyer, Sebastian to find all of those listed to gather for Cassandra's final set of affairs. There were five names that had been listed to him and he managed to find them all and let them know to make their way to Dale Manor by this evening.

Sebastian tapped the envelope on a table as he looked around the empty and dank home. He coughed a little into his handkerchief due to the lingering smell of cigarette smoke and he glanced up at a portrait above the mantle of the deceased as a child along with her parents and beside it was a picture of her as a young woman.  "I suppose money can't buy happiness... but mainly for those who never wanted to make others happy," He grumbled before folding the cloth back into his suit jacket pocket. "Figures it would rain on the day of her passing. I think she would like that she could make everyone miserable one last time before her fat ass went STRAIGHT to hell... I suppose it'll be all over soon." He admitted as he adjusted his glasses, "Just feel bad for the poor sap that has to deal with the house. It's so full of junk." 

There was a ring at the front door and Sebastian rose to his feet, adjusting the cuffs of his shirt before heading over to answer and nearly tripping over Creep. The cat screeched before knocking over a few trinkets and sprinting upstairs.

The gnome cursed under his breath before opening the door, "Good evening, all. Thanks for joining me for the reading of Lady Dale's Last Will and Testament." He said after which, he normally would have given the people condolences but he did not think these people would be mourning the woman they were gathered here to discuss.
This message was lightly edited by the GM at 14:35, Fri 01 Apr 2022.

Anteris wasn't sure if he believed the death. Cassandra was mysterious like that. He himself had planted the ruse of his own demise months ago. He still wonders if father wept. He still wonders if other acolytes are searching for him.

He itched the stubble on his pointy chin, the stubble that did not belong there, deep in thought.

He broke the silence, tipping his hat to everyone gathered, "I s'pose I'll shoot first. My name is The Lowpriest. Pleas'd ta meet cha." His long draw on the accent was very foreign, but it fit the get up. Black leather jacket and chaps over a white tee and blue jeans and boots.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:30, Thu 31 Mar 2022.

Tina fidgets a lot when she was gathered to listen Lady Dale's last will and testament. She was rather surprised that her name came up, that doesn't help alleviate her nervousness,"Gah, what should I do, why am I here?" she mumbles as she twiddles her thumbs, but then notice Creep sprinting towards the stairs,"Ah of course, gotta help Creep, even from beyond the grave that cat of yours was the only thing you've loved. Though you won't say it, I'm sure he'll miss you dearly." she says to the younger painting of Lady Dale, she then looks toward the attorney,"Uhm, good day, my name is Tina ChipperWood. I, well live in this mansion as a vet for Creep, Lady Dale's Cat. Well, I mostly have to be the vet in order to rent a room for this mansion, but I'd like to think that Lady Dale is somewhat of a dear friend of mine. Even though she complains that I'm a freeloader, she's a good person at heart, probably.... I'm also the one of the first folk to find Lady Dale's body, and I will say her death is unusual. I... I think foul play is involved." she reveals her thoughts in the Lady of this mansion's death.

When Andar first received the summons, the courier said that Lady Dale had passed away. Andar assumed it was just another ruse of the old hag to get him to do more of her more shady dealings. He picked up a copy of The Dinn Daily and sure enough, it seemed to be true. "Looks like the old hag finally pissed off the wrong person."

That evening, the young Stormraven approached Dale Manor as he had done numerous times over the past few weeks. Only this time he was actually a bit on edge. His earlier comment echoed through his mind all day. Andar imagined, almost hoped, that this was some sort of trap or ambush laid by one of the dubious associates Cassandra had been dealing with recently.

Andar laughed out loud at himself as he entered the manor and saw the small group gathered inside. ~No adventure tonight~ he thought as he bowed gracefully and introduced himself. "Andar Stormraven. Heir to the The Raven's Roost and a life filled with bookkeeping and boredom. As the apparent errand runner of the late Lady Cassandra Dale, I can only guess that, even in death, she has summoned me for one final chore." He offered no condolences to the gathered party as he know the old woman had no family, and Creep was likely the only living creature that might actually miss her.

Service bowed deeply to the attorney before he entered the abode of the late Lady Dale. He ducked his head so that he could enter the large, if unkempt, manor. The sorcerer had often thought she could have used a warforged herself in order to keep the place tidy but it was far from his place to make such a suggestion. The warforged had become familiar with the layout of the manor after his frequent trips but he still followed the others.

The whole encounter seemed awkward to him. Almost all of his trips were assignments given to him by his superiors. It had been a surprise to everyone when Service specifically had been contacted. Their interactions had been cordial but the warforged was under the impression she distinctly disapproved of him. Still, the priests had ordered him to come to the manor and so Service was here.

The sorcerer elected to stand in the back, he'd learned long ago some chairs were meant for lighter souls, and watched the others. It seemed introductions were being made. Unsure of whether he was to conduct in this ritual he waited till several others had gone. "Greetings, my name is Service. I am a servant of Ogma. Please inform me if there is anything I can do to assist." He bowed again before he stepped back.

His head sharply turned to face Ms. ChipperWood when she voiced her concerns. Death was not something that concerned Service. He had heard the priests say 'As all life begins must all life ends. Such is the natural order'. A murder however was far from the peace Ogma taught. This was a shocking revelation.

At the back of the group was a halfling his face covered by the hood of his cloak. He scooted in as the door opened and quickly ducked into a small recess in the wall next to the door and stood silently as the others made there introduction until Andar commented about being the errand boy, when the halfling let out a barking laugh that he quickly silenced.  waiting for a long awkward moment after Service.  he finally stepped out of the shadows and with a sigh, removed his hood.  His face was half covered by a dark brown birthmark, and after another sigh he started talking.  "Everyone calls me Whiskey, on account of this Birthmark" with a heavy emphasis on the last word "If you've ever been to a playhouse or other REPUTABLE entertainment venue in the city you've probably seen my relatives on stage.  Well, lets just say I don't have a face for the stage.  This "lady" was one of the main patrons for our family.  So I got stuck as her gopher, trying to do the impossible task of keeping her happy so she would keep her purse open."

Looking at Andar he continues "It seems I wasn't the only one stuck running all over town for her."

Looking closely at Andars fancy clothes he finishes "I bet we had very different errands though"

Once the group made their way into the musty old house, Sebastian cleared his throat as they were lead into the living room. The gnome made his way over to the desk he had left the last few papers he needed to sort out and went to the envelope. "Well... now that introductions are out of the way, I'm Lady Cassandra's lawyer, Sebastian Runegazer." He says with a small flourish of his hand as it dipped into the envelope with a certain level of grace, "All suspicions aside we'll need to see what the deceased has left us with... then you may go about looking into things... or don't. Police exist for a reason, though I can't attest to their efficacy." The gnome adjusted his glasses as he looked down to the sheet of paper resting delicately between his fingers.

"I, Lady Cassandra Dale, presently residing at the Dale Manor declare this to be my Last Will and Testament. I am not married nor do I have any heirs." Sebastian read out, going through the general legal jargon he needed to, glancing up at the group and knowing this part was to be dull.  "I hereby entitle all parties gathered to my estate and give access to my accounts to those who care for these estates. With these funds and this home, however come with the numerous affairs of the Dale household. With inheriting my things, you also inherit my business and my grudges." As Sebastian reads through the Will, amongst the papers is another envelope. He groans and lifts it up.

"Supposedly, the affairs you lot need to attend to are in this letter." He says before placing it down on the desk and shaking his head. Of course the old bat couldn't have made things easier for him to go through. No, she had to bury him in a mound of papers full of details. However, the gnome could only-half bother about the agreement. "Well... if you lot wish to follow this paper trail, be my guest. My only concern as Ms. Dale's lawyer is the matter that you five are now in charge of her estate." He decides with a firm nod of his head.  As the gnome pulled out the paper he needed the group to sign, the doorbell rang.

"Who the blazes decided to come here of all places?" Sebastian grumbled.

How nice, Cassandra left everyone something, but all Anteris would have to his name was the cigarette addiction from the time spent too close to her. No way he was signing that document, perhaps with his fake name though...

He reached for the pen when the doorbell hit.

Sebastian wasn't expecting anyone else.

Anteris groaned. The papers would have to wait. He sidestepped to the door and shoved his right hand into his jacket pocket.

He made quick eye contact with everyone else in the room. His golden eyes lit bright by his own inescapable fear of everything.

Tina looked at the attorney wide eyed, shocked that the will really said that,"Woah, we've been given the state, that's so unlike Lady Dale... But now I don't have to worry about rents, and I can finally live in a mansion. Eat your heart out dad cause I'm living the good life." she says, immediately forgetting about the whole murder scene she found, but then was surprised to here a doorbell,"Huh, that's weird, this place doesn't normally have any visitors. Who could that be?"

The warforged froze as he listened to the lawyer explain Lady Cassandra's will. Surely Service had misheard, or perhaps he misunderstood the gnome. He could have sworn that Service himself had been entitled to some part of her estate. Such an event seemed completely improper based off of what he had experienced. How was he supposed to react? What was the proper process? Anxiety filled him as he tried to think of what to do. The sorcerer would have to go consult the priests, he was sure they would know what to do.

The sound of the doorbell shook Service from his thoughts. The warforged knew how to respond to a doorbell and knowing what to do soothed his nerves. "It appears we have a visitor. Excuse me, I shall answer and inquire as to who has come." He calmly walked to the door and opened it a crack. "Good evening, might I ask who is there?"

Whiskey listened half heartedly as the lawyer began to speak.  He'd been around enough lawyers to know that they loved to listen to themselves talk and they often charged by the word for there convoluted ramblings.  He also knew enough to realize that what the lawyer just said was borderline insane and life changing.

When the doorbell rang and the gnome stopped talking, the hair on the back of Whiskeys neck stood  up, and he quickly looked around and spotted an ill lit corner behind some furniture, where he slipped into the shadows and pulled his hood back over his face.

Andar sighed and shifted in his seat more than once as he listened to the listened to gnome drone on. His mind started wandering and he nearly missed the important bits at the end. "See! I just knew she would gonna ask us to take care of her business, even in death."

Andar had dealt with a number of Cassandra's associates lately and none of them were the types of folks he had much desire to have personal ties to. "Before we sign anything, let's see this list of..." the doorbell cut off the rest of his words.

~Probably just a latecomer~ he thought, but Andar was glad the warforged offered to tend to such tasks as answering doors.

Behind the door is a brunette elven girl with round glasses and a well-fitted periwinkle suit. She adjusts her glasses and looks up at the distressed automaton before her. Curiosity crossed her face as she looked up at him, not overly familiar with machines having emotions. Before she became distracted with this she gave a short bow, "I apologize for the intrusion. I am Dr. Capra Aevielle of the United Medical Supply Retinue," She introduces herself.

"I'm here on behalf of the city due to the agreement of the deceased to donate organs after her passing," She explains simply, folding one hand over the other which is holding a rather well-made leather briefcase. "This will only take a moment but I must work before tomorrow seeing as they need to be well-kept for those who need them."

In order to verify her story with the group she does produce a document with Cassandra's signature stating that upon her death she would become an organ donor and her body would be property of the UMSR. Upon a first look, everything appeared legitimate and Dr. Capra appeared confident.
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:19, Mon 04 Apr 2022.

Anteris whistled from his spot next to the door. The tone suggested both that he found her attractive, but also that her visit was fruitless.

"Yer gon' be severely disappointed, Doc. The deceased didn' take care o' her insides none too good."

There was more gravy than grave about her. When the documents were produced he didn't even give them a glance, but stared past those spectacles to see what her eyes told him.

He gave Andar a quick knowing glance, figuring the man would play along.
"This is all academic I s'ppose? To see the long term effects of whiskey on the human female liver?" He lied. Whiskey was not her vice. Would the Capra play along or catch on?

13 insight.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:42, Mon 04 Apr 2022.

Stepping out from the shadows, Whiskey flips off his hood and marches to the center of the room.  Whoa whoa whoa.  If my head isn’t spinning, you, Mr lawyer just told us (indicating the rest of the group) that we are now responsible for this big old house”

Turning towards the doctor he continues And you, first you think that anyone is gonna want her bits and pieces stuck in them?  After the west and tear she put in them?  ewww. “

He shudders visibly at the mere thought,

And furthermore you plan is to hack her up, take whatever bits (another shudder) are useable and leave us with the remnants of a hacked up body to deal with? No, no thank you.  You can bring the authority’s and take the body somewhere else for butchering.  I ain’t paying someone to scrub blood off the floors.”

Whoever the woman was at the door was her appearance did not seem dangerous to Service. He opened the door fully as the doctor introduced herself. The warforged nodded along as the requests were explained and accepted the forms when they were provided. As far as he could tell the documentation was valid and the late Lady's signature was on the document.

Before he could respond others spoke up seeming to protest the result. It was a curious situation. Service scratched his head as he listened. As long as the proper forms were filled out it seemed like a normal thing to recycle. However the warforged was confused about one aspect of the request. "I was not aware that the body of Lady Dale was still on the premises." The sorcerer had presumed the body had been handed over to a priest of Therian. He turned to the gnome that had gathered them there. "Do you know where her remains might be located Mr. Runegazer?"

"Wait, they haven't moved the body away from the kitchen." Tina said in shocked, and she felt a sudden shiver,"That's kind of disrespectful toward the living." she says then looks toward Whiskey,"Eh, I don't really mind if theirs a bit of blood and guts here and their, as long as I'm living in a place, it's all good for me."

Andar fidgeted absent-mindedly with the ring on his finger while the new comer introduced herself and announced her purpose. He gave this Lowpriest a knowing look. He rose to his feet and approached the young elven doctor. "Andar Stormraven," he said with a polite bow and a slight emphasis on his last name, as if it should actually mean something, even if it did not.

He continued in a stately voice. "This gentleman is correct. Lady Dale most certainly did not take good care of herself and now she is dead because of her poor choices. And as our halfling friend indicates, no reputable doctor would want to risk their reputation using such tainted organs. Besides, you said you had until the morn, so wouldn't it be best for us to have her transported to your facilities, where these procedures could be carried out professionally, without introducing further contaminations to her already tainted remains?"

Before she could interject, the young man raised his hand to cut off her words. "And if you insist on doing this here and now, then as luck would have it, Lady Dale's attorney is here with her last wishes. I am certain he would like to validate your credentials and stated purpose to make sure it aligns with the instructions he was provided by the late Lady."




10:34, Today: Andar Stormraven rolled 21 using 1d20+5.  Persuasion.

The doctor rolls her eyes at all the prying questions of these people and places her hands on her hips, seeming confident regardless of the bombardment, "Now I'd doubt that she's still left lying on the floor, besides, I know that Miss Dale was a heavy smoker but organs are organs and organs save lives. I don't care about a supposed hit to my reputation, I care about patients." She snaps as she makes her way inside, "Surely I'll talk to this lawyer and make the necessary preparations." The elf woman says, pushing her glasses up her nose before striding past the crowd and over to Sebastian Runegazer who nervously takes a few steps back before giving an awkward sort of smile.

"Doctor Aevielle, it is a little bit early for you to be here for your work," The gnome stuttered out with a nervous smile, "Usually you come when everyone retires for the night considering your grim job."

"Yes, well, I've got a pretty busy night, here, Runegazer... and as I recall there's nothing illegal about me showing up early," The elven woman replies with a casual shrug before handing the lawyer her papers. "Though if everyone here's far too squeamish for me to do my job here, mats down and all, then I can always bring her with me. Stomach's of children, I swear." She idly complains before the lawyer guides her out of the room.

"Perhaps that is for the best. It'd do well for you to not disturb them right now. I wouldn't call them grieving but I would consider them startled about the current turn of events."

"I'll leave out the back door then... and leave you lot to... your current situation."
This message was last edited by the GM at 15:32, Thu 07 Apr 2022.

As the others expressed horror or indifference at this being done in the kitchen, he filed their personalities away in his mind. Sure, they could be acting just like he was, but if there was a possibility their fates would last beyond today, he would certainly like to get to know them better. He had been lonely for quite some time.

Anteris was impressed with Capra's reply. She had done her homework. Doctors tended to be nerds like that.

"Maybe I can help you." He slowly muttered in his long drawn out and fake accent. Then he side stepped Dr. Capra Aevielle of the United Medical Supply Retinue and held open the door for her.

If an autopsy was about to be performed Anteris could definitely due to learn more about human anatomy, and perhaps might learn more about the cause of death first hand. He was sure the police were not handling the investigation like they should, and was not sure if he wanted to get involved, but he could always decide not to later. This was the window to see the body.

"Then I wonder where they put the body... You know what, I don't want to know if you guys are gonna start dissecting then I don't wanna go near that." Tina says, then looks back to the lawyer,"You said grudges, what do you mean by that. What kind of grudge did we even inherit." she says as she takes a quick peek on the letter on the table.

As Service continued to listen he eventually nodded his head. It seemed the lawyer was aware of the doctor and her purpose here. Some parts of it still seemed confusing to the warforged but perhaps that was because he was simply a servant. If everything was in order than that was good enough for him. "In that case I wish you well in your endeavor Doctor. If you and Mr. Lowpriest need assistance please do not hesitate to ask."

With that he moved away from the elf and returned to the table with the various legal documents. "Yes. I am curious for more details about what is all expected of us. Could you elaborate more on the 'business and grudges' Mr. Runegazer." He saw that Ms. Chipperwood had already reached for the letter so Service crouched down so he could read it over her shoulder.

Andar smiled admirably at the young doctor. She was unshaken and undeterred, and though her presence didn't seem unexpected, Mr. Runegazer's nervousness was curious to the young warlock. Given that they were clearly familiar with one another, Andar watched their interaction with interest. Once she was out of sight, he joined the others to see the contents of the envelope.


21:40, Today: Andar Stormraven rolled 22 using 1d20+2.  Insight.